OPENING OF A NEW CHURCH AT RAKAIA.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXII, Issue 1, 3 May 1895, Page 15

OPENING OF A NEW CHURCH AT RAKAIA.

The new Catholic church, just out of the hands of the builders, was dedicated and formally opened on Sunday by Binhop Grimes. There was, perhaps, the largest gathering of Catholics on the occasion that Bakaia has ever Been, visitors coming from all parts of the country to>, assist at the service, Ashburton sent a very large contingent, and over the last mile of the road to Bakaia the Ashburton vehicles were . quite a procession, a prominent feature being Mr Newman's four-in-hand drag containing the choir, the altar boys, and a few others. At about half-past eleven his Lordship, with Fathers O'Donoell and Hyland, appeared at the door of the chapel, his LordaLip in his! epißcopel robes, with mitre and pastoral staff. Here an address was presented to his Lordship, signed by leading members of the Rakaia congregation, and giving expression to the loyal feelings entertained ( to the Ohurch and to himself by his people in the Bakaia, of joy that their desire to present to their Heavenly Father a house wherein His worship could be carried on bad that day been gratified, and of welcome to the Bishop, who was that day to receive it from them. His Lordship thanked them most heartily for the beautiful address so well read to him, and begged them to understand that the pleasure his presence gave them was not greater ihan that he derived from his visit, more especially as the object of his visit was the adding of one more to the number of material edifices devoted to the true service of the one trne God. He would not detain them longer in the open air, but would proceed to bless thrir beautiful little cborcb. Before doing so, however, there was a very pleasant duty he had to perform. They had done well in the erection of this pret'y little building, but, doubtless, they would agree witb him that the work would no! be so well done nor undertaken so Boon had they not one at their head — a leader — who directed, counselled, and encouraged them. Ha referred to the person of the Very Rev Rector. Had Almighty God not inspired him (the Bishop) to send them their present Rector they might not so Boon enjoy the gratification of that deeire to which their address referred. His Lordship had already given their Eector a maik of confidence by numbering him amongst those whose duty it was to advise him in the administration of tha diocese, and now he was goiog to give a further mark of cofidence by investing him with the insignia which Rome had allowed the Bishop to confer on bis diocesan consultors. This would show them that Blather O'Djnnell waß one of the priests of his diocese th.it he most highly esteemed, and deservedly. The Bishop hid watched Father O'Donnell's work Binca he came to the dioceso. On the West Coast he left one of the finest presbyteries in that part of the diocese — unfinished indeed when Father O'Donnell left, but that was through no fault of his. There also he built a church even larger than this. The first appointment bis Lordship made was to send Father O'Donnell to a district where there was a very poor little church, hardly any land and no presbytery. But in a short time with the help of the generous people amoDgst whom he was placed, a large piece of land waa secured, a handsome presbytery erected and furnished, and the Church enlarged and finished. Since he came to Ashburton they knew his work — the acquisition of land beside the church and the transportation thither of the immense convent building, an achievement which would probably make him famous. And now there was the achievement of this long felt and long desired work. In view of', all this his Lordship had determined to inveßt Father O'Donnell with the insignia of Diocesan Consultor, a position analogous to that of Canon in the older countries. The Bishop then blessed and placed on Father O'Donnell a Rochet and Cape which he is to wear when officiating in his own church or when ia attendance on the Bishop anywhere in the diocese. His Loidship then proceeded to consecrate the building. Mass followed, celebrated by the newly -invested Very Rev Canon O'Doncell, assisted by Father Hyland. The Ashburton choir, under Mr David Jones, organist and conductor, sang the music proper to the service. After Mass his Lordship preached from the words of the L >rd to Solomon on the completion of the temple — " I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication that thou hnst made before Me ; I have hallowed this housa which thou hast built, to put My name there for ever, and Mine eyes and Mine heart Bhall be there perpetually." He closed his eloquent address with an appeal to the people to give liberally as the Hebrews gave for the constiuction of the tabernacle And the building of the temple, so that the church that day should be

given to God '' unconditionally," without a penoy of debt left upon it. The appeal was responded to by the people, and £51 waa collected as the congregation retired. The debt on the church ia thus reduced to an almoßt nominal sum. The chapel is a neat building of 54ft by 25ft over all, the sanctuary occupying 16ft by 14ft of this space, but two sacristies are added of 12ft square, and a roomy porch at the entrance. Roughly calculated, the church will seat about 180 peoplp. The contractors wore Messrs Kilbrido and Hannah, of Southbridge, and Mr Wilson, of Ashburton, did the painting.. The altar, tabernacle candelabra, and thurible, were the presents of Father Ohervier, of Leeston ; tho Bishop's present was a set of vestments, while the Rev Mother, Ashburton, presented the linen and altar cloths. The church will be known as St Ita'a.